What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

Prospect has the most affordable homes ($197k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sidney	Prospect
People
Population	4,790Highest	923Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME	45.2±7.5Highest about the ME average
	Prospect and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Prospect and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	19.8%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Prospect and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.6%±1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Prospect and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME	$81,250±$17kLowest 9% above ME
	Sidney and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME	$196,500±$19kLowest 34% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME	$1,107±$61Lowest about the ME average
	Sidney and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,474Highest 19% below ME	$1,979Lowest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	31.3%±42Highest ME: 48.4%
	Prospect and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Lowest 19 yrs newer than ME	1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	33 minHighest 34% above ME
Work from home	14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%	6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Sidney and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#15 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 18	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.